Waterberg

It is unbelievable, but there are permanent lakes in Namibia. In the Tsumeb area are 2 very deep craters in the limestone, collapsed caves. We went to see one of them. The lake was about 40m in diameter and the walls leading steeply down to the water surface, 20m below our viewpoint. It was a shame really, there was no way to go swimming in the clear, fresh water. The lake is said to be bottomless which is probably not true, but it comes quite close.

Next we visited a crocodile ranch where they have 50 adult animals for breeding, huge beasts, all caught in the Kunene/Caprivi area. The offspring is used when they are 3-6 years old: for shoes, handbags and meat. We had a look in the nursery and were surprised how small the 4 year olds are, maybe a meter in length. Our guide held one of them and we were allowed to touch it: the skin is very smooth and soft, not as it looks like. Afterwards we had crocodile steak which was very tasty, but somehow it felt the wrong way round: we should be eaten by crocodile instead of vice versa.

On the farm Gaub we took a guided tour into their famous bat cave. It was very interesting to explore the cave, not with built ways and staircases as I knew it from Europe. We only saw 3 bats, but very close and they did not move away. We took camp on another farm where there was a sign for camping, a note with the prices and a box to put the money in at the gate, several campsites with fire places, a simple toilet and shower for which you could make hot water by lighting a fire under the boiler. We were all on our own and enjoyed it.

Despite warnings that it is not worth it we went to the Hoba meteorite. I found it quite impressive: an iron lump 3m x 2m and 1m high. Yes, there is not much to see about it, but when you imagine when and where it comes from …

At Waterberg we went on a guided walk onto the plateau with a Herero who explained a lot about the plants, the animals and Herero tradition. It was interesting to listen to him. The other reason why we went with a guide was that there are buffalo and black rhino on the plateau which can become quite aggressive. However, we did not meet any. The other days we walked around in the plain on our own. The landscape is phantastic, red sandstone towering maybe 50m above the plain! There are permanent springs and it was lovely to walk along the water, you do not get this chance very often here.